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I don’t want to play adult games with a childish heart. I’m unsure which one of us is acting more like the child at this point. I just want to take what’s left of me, go home, and nurse it back to health.

I’m fucking out.

Done.

Imagining him in this life will make it so much easier for me to let go. If this is truly his world, there’s no way I can be any part of it. I’d make myself fucking sick obsessing over this very scenario nightly. Even if our parents’ history weren’t a barrier, there’s no way this could ever work.

“Natalie, are you okay?”

“No, I’m not, Chad,” I speak up, refusing to look back in Easton’s direction as I feel the sting start in the back of my eyes and will it away. “Can you please walk me out?”

Chad nods, discarding his haul on the bar before gently gripping my arm above my elbow and guiding me through the sea of warm bodies. As the music switches, my anger morphs to hurt.

Did he mean a single fucking word he said to me in the past few days?

Is this some sort of payback for leaving him in Seattle and not answering his calls?

Chad ushers me toward the stairs, his hand on the small of my back as I walk away with purpose, thankful I came and saw what I needed to in order to let the fantasy go. I exhale heavily and let resignation sink in. The second Chad and I make it to the landing at the top of the stairs, I feel the shift in the air before warm, calloused fingers grip my shoulder. My scalp prickles as I glance back to find Easton glaring between us both.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Easton hisses, his eyes raking me in a possessive sweep.

“Pretty rude, man,” Chad interjects, winning points with me.

Easton’s gaze darts to him. “And you are?”

“Chad, this is Easton Crowne. Easton, Chad. Chad was just escorting me out.” Catcalls sound from feet away as I motion over Easton’s shoulder. “Thanks for the invite. Great show tonight, I mean that. It was exceptional. I wish you every success and . . . enjoy your orgy.” Hating the jealous edge to my voice, I stand firm and turn again as Easton grips my wrist, his gaze locked with mine.

“Nice to fucking meet you, Chad,” Easton clips. “Read the fucking situation and take the hint.” Chad eyes Easton’s hand on my wrist. “I’m asking nicely.”

“Natalie,” Chad reasons, shaking his head. “I’ve obviously stumbled into something.”

“No,” I speak up clearly. “No, you really haven’t,” I place a placating hand on Easton’s chest just as he tightens his hold on my wrist. I may as well have tossed jet fuel on the fire. “You go on. I’ll find you downstairs before I leave.”

Chad frowns. “Sure?”

“No, she fucking won’t,” Easton snaps, “so make peace with it now and move the fuck on. I’m done asking nicely.”

Chad looks at Easton with a ‘you’re a dick’ expression before he leans in.

“Nice to meet you, Natalie.” Chad concedes, pulling out of the ring because he’s no idiot, and the air around Easton has turned deadly.

“You too,” I sigh as Chad glances between us once more before starting down the stairs. Easton’s eyes rake down my dress as I spot the stunner who was catering to him standing at the edge of a nearby couch, her eyes darting curiously between the two of us.

“Uh, I think that woman needs you . . . or something.”

“I’m not with her,” he says bluntly.

“Okay. Well, she’s got a different impression.”

“No, she doesn’t,” he pulls me a step back into the room.

“Easton, stop this shit,now, and let me go.”

Ignoring me, he pulls me into him. Panicking, I glance around. “You’re making a scene. People are staring.”

“That’s your hang-up, not mine,” he growls. “We need to talk. We’re talking. Right fucking now.”

“No, we’re good. I came, I saw. I got the T-shirt, thank you for a lovely—fuck!” I shriek as Easton moves like a freight train through the room, bypassing hordes of people toward a heavily guarded hall. He stops and addresses a security guard, and the guard nods, letting Easton pull me past him.

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